Stimulate the Three-Year Old Mind

To stimulate your three-year old’s mind you are going to need to buy them the right kind of toys, but you are also going to need to play along with them. Choosing the right kind of toys for your three-year old is important for their development because children often learn through play. You don’t have to pick the most expensive or popular toys, you need to have some basic toys on hand to get their mind working.

Toys are an important part of childhood learning because they allow your child to use their imagination. When children are allowed to be creative, studies have shown that they tend to stay creative later on in life. This creativity is great for developing problem-solving skills because the more creative children are, the more resourceful they can become. They can think outside of the box when it comes to facing challenges and coping with difficulties. Toys also allow your child to learn while playing. Children through play will learn about social skills, conflict resolution, plus how to work together as a team. Playing will also help your child develop physically, mentally and emotionally.

There is no right or wrong answer to what the best toys are for a three-year old, but you do want to get toys that are age appropriate. You are not going to want to buy small interlocking blocks for your three-year old because they are a choking hazard; some three-year olds still put things in their mouths. You also do not want to give them infant toys because they are considered too young for your three-year old.

Pounding toys are a great choice for three-year olds because they help your three-year old improve their hand-eye coordination, but they also help improve gross and fine motor skills. Pounding toys can be benches with pegs or balls that you have to pound through holes. The toys can be secured in the bench or they can be pieces that your toddler has to hold in place while they pound them through. If you choose to get this style of toy, you will want to avoid the toys that come with a wooden hammer because they are considered a safety hazard. Most toddlers are still uncoordinated when it comes to pounding, so it can be dangerous with two or more children present.

Shape recognition toys help your three-year old develop because they help develop his fine motor skills, but they also help teach your child about shapes and sorting. These toys are often made of bright wooden or plastic cubes, but can come in other shapes. The cube has holes cut into it in various forms and your child must match the right shape to the holes so that they can drop the shape into the cube through the hole. If there are too many pieces, your child might get frustrated. To help avoid frustration you can start your child out with only one or two shapes; add the other shapes as they get better at getting the shapes through the holes.

Riding toys are great for children who know how to walk on their own. These toys are great at helping your child learn how to balance, but it will also help with gross motor skills. Your child should be able to climb on and off the toy without difficulty prior to riding it; they should also be able to maneuver the toy well. Turning while riding is something that will have to develop later on. When choosing this style of toy you want to find one that is sturdy, has secure seating, and is easy to roll along the floor.